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India, Pak trade fire at LoC in Poonch

ANUBHAV MISRI. Dated: 7/24/2013 11:34:59 PM

POONCH, Jul 24: Indian and Pakistan troops traded fire late Tuesday evening after the latter for the third time in a week resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian forward posts with medium and light range weapons in Degwar sector of Haveli tehsil in Poonch district.
Though officially speaking, Indian army did not confirm any ceasefire violation yet the sources on the ground admitted that Pakistan troops did breach truce by targeting Indian forward posts along Line of Control (LoC). They, though preferring anonymity, also confirmed retaliation from Indian side.
Sources said Tuesday night, at around 11.00 PM Pakistan troops of 801 Mujahidin opened unprovoked firing from their forward Manyari post using light and medium range weapons in Degwar sector of Poonch district. Pak troops targeted Indian forward posts Shekhar and Langur.
“Indian troops exercised restraint initially yet later they too retaliated and their response was calibrated. The firing closed at around 12.10 AM,” the sources added.
The locals also confirmed that Pakistan targeted forwards Indian posts and local population. The gun booms could be heard in Degwar and Poonch creating panic among local habitants of this border district, they added.
An army officer, preferring anonymity, stated that Pakistan troops did resort to fire yet did not target Indian forward posts.
“They opened fire but not targeting our posts. Probably their target was on their side only. So obviously, Indian troops too did not retaliate,” he said.
But the sources on the ground said that the target of Pakistan troops was Indian forward posts Shekhar and Langur along LoC in Degwar sector upon which they fired using light and medium range weapons including LMG.
“Pakistani troops of 801 Mujahidin opened fire from their forward Manyari post. Thereafter Indian troops guarding the LoC also retaliated. Recently the troops of 801 Mujahidin had replaced 657 Mujahidin in the area in Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK),” they added.